Buckle.



J. LUKACS.

BUCKLE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 10, 1911,

1,060,1 96.' Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

JOSEPH LUKACS, OF SOUTH BENI), INDIANA.

BUCKLE.

Application filed August 10, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913.

Serial No. 643,277.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known t-hat I, JOSEPH LUKAcs, a

subject of Hungary,`residing at South Bend,

in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved buckle, and is more particularly adapted for the purpose of connecting the broken ends of harness parts, such as the tugs, reins, etc., in order that a quick coupling of sudh broken members may be effected, and the inconvenience and delay necessary to make permanent repairs obviated, where the exigencies of the occasion prevent the loss of time necessary to make the permanent repairs, or where the breakage occurs at a place remote from a repair shop.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the tongues of the buckle are yieldingly held in a closed position, that is their free ends are held in contact with the buckle frame, so that any back movement of the parts coupled together cannot accidentally release such parts.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction hereinafter more specifically described and pointed out in t-he claims, it being understood that the embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying drawings is the preferred form thereof, and that certain changes may be made in the form, proportion and minor details thereof without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. y

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the buckle. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, and .F ig. 3 is an end view.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the buckle frame consists of two parts 1 1, which are preferably rounded at their ends, as at 2, their adjoining ends being dovetailed and a pin 3 passed through apertures in the tenons thereof, so as to form a hinged connection between t-he frame parts. Pivotally mounted on the cross bars 4 4 are tongues 5 5 having their free ends extending outwardly and slightly beyond the ends of the buckle frame.

Mounted on the buckle frame so as to have a pivotal movement with relation thereto are spring pressed fingers 6 6, which are preferably U-shaped and have inturned ends 7 inserted in apertures in the frame, which inturned ends form the pivot for the ngers, the latter extending beyond the frame ends and crimped at 9, so as to pass over the free ends of the tongues and hold the latter in contact with the frame, at the same time permitting the major portion of the fingers to lie in a plane with and closely adjoining the edges of the buckle frame. Encircling the inturned ends of the fingers are spiral springs 10, one end of each of which are inserted in apertures in the frame, as plainly shown by dotted lines in F ig. 1, and the other ends of which enter apertures l1 in the fingers, the tension of the springs being such as to exert a downward pressure upon the outer ends of the lingers and yieldingly hold the tongue ends in contact with the buckle frame. It will thus be.

observed that a st-rap passed through the buckle and the tongue through a hole in the same cannot become accidentally unbuckled, due to any endwise reverse movement of the strap, the spring pressed finger preventing the tongue from swinging on its pivot so that the same can slip out of the hole in the strap.

rlhe device is simple in structure and veasy of manipulation, and provides an efficient means for the quick repair of broken harness parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A buckle comprising a frame, a U- shaped keeper having pivotal connection with said frame and its free end extending beyond the head end of said frame, means for yieldingly forcing the free ends of said frame and keeper in the direction of each other, and a tongue mount-ed to swing on the frame and having its free end interposed between the free ends of said frame and keeper.

2. A buckle comprising a frame, a U- shaped keeper having its ends inwardly directed and journaled in the frame, the free end thereof extending beyond the head end of the frame and normally positioned in a plane with and adjoining the outer edges of the frame, means for yieldingly forcing saidl frame and keeper in the direction of each other, and a tongue mounted toswing on the frame and havngits free end interposed between the free ends of said frame and posed between the free ends of the frame keeper. and keeper. 10

3. A buckle comprising a frame, a keeper In testimony whereof I aHX my signature having pivotal connection with said frame, in presence of two witnesses.

means for yieldinglyvforoing the Jfree ends JOSEPH LUKACS. of said frame and keeper in the direction of Witnesses: each other, and a tongue mounted to swing DANIEL B. NYE, on the frame and having its free end inter- FRANK SoHAsoHINGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

